Report – Renault Zoe ZE 40 comes with increased range

The French automaker is getting ready for the prime time at the Paris Motor Show, where it will officially introduce in front of the worldwide audience the upgraded all-electric Zoe ZE 40.

The company’s marketing team from the Netherlands spilled the beans on the electric city car’s specifications – confirming the recent reports that a new version will become available with better range. As the name implies, the Zoe ZE 40 gets an upgraded battery pack with a capacity of 41 kWh that will increase the maximum range to 248 miles (400 km), based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), which is usually more optimistic than EPA’s procedures. Renault itself claims a maximum range in the real world of up to 186 miles (300 km).

Sourced from LG Chem, the new battery has the same weight as the 22-kWh pack and needs about the same space inside the car. Aside from the increased capacity battery, the Zoe will also pack a better electric motor with 88 horsepower (65 kilowatts), up from the standard 77 hp (57 kW). The new version will cost €31,890 in the Netherlands – while the 22-kWh battery rated at 150 miles (240 km) NEDC or 90 miles (145 km) in real life use is €29,390, a mere €2,500 less.